Water & Infrastructure

Water is the lifeblood of Texas. Without an adequate supply of water, the region will not be able to sustain its growth. At the same time, communities need to be protected from flooding. Congressman Hinojosa has been working on a variety of fronts to conserve current supplies, locate new sources of water and prevent floods.

In the 111th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa introduced H.R. 1393 to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Conservation Act to authorize 15 additional conservation projects along the Texas/Mexico border. The bill passed the House on June 3, 2009. The bill authorizes 19 additional such water conservation projects. Congressman Hinojosa has helped secure almost $40 million in federal funding for these irrigation canal lining projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. As a result, several projects have been completed and are showing water savings of more than 30 percent.

A recent study by the Corps of Engineers shows that the International Boundary and Water Commission levees along the US/Mexico border are in critical condition and will not protect border communities in the event of heavy rains or hurricane. Over the past two years, Congressman Hinojosa has helped secure an unprecedented $300 million for levee improvements. As a result, levee work in Cameron County has been completed and the remaining work in Hidalgo County will be completed shortly.

The Water Resources Development Act authorizes and variety of water projects and sets national water policy. Congressman Hinojosa continues to fight for passage of this critical bill. He has requested the inclusion of several projects including funding for the Raymondville Drain project in South Texas. During the past reauthorization he inserted language to allow the Corps of Engineers to not only provide technical assistance to colonias, but to also help construct critical water and wastewater projects in these extremely needy communities.

Congressman Hinojosa has been working with the Corps of Engineers to find ways to protect northern communities in central Texas that are more prone to flooding. As a result of his efforts, the Corps of Engineers is currently looking at ways to better retain flood waters in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and is continuing its work on flood modeling in Goliad, Karnes and DeWitt Counties in order to update the flood maps critical to safe community development.